The Boy Allies on the North Sea Patrol Page 30

  CHAPTER XXX.

  THE RUSE SUCCESSFUL.

  Jack approached the man he took to be the superintendent. The latterlooked up.

  "Well, sir?" he demanded in German.

  "I'm in luck," said Jack to himself, but aloud he made reply:

  "I am ordered to take the English prisoner, who was brought here thismorning, before the king."

  "Your order," said the superintendent, extending a hand.

  "This is a hurry case," said Jack quietly, "and His Majesty did not taketime to write an order."

  "Well, you won't get him without it," said the superintendent.

  "But I must have him at once," said Jack firmly. "Either you shalldeliver him to me, or I shall have to use force. My orders are to bringhim before the king immediately. Shall I call my men?" and the lad tooka step toward the door.

  The physician looked at the lad keenly, and Jack returned his gazeunflinchingly. Finally the physician arose.

  "Come, then," he said; "but I would have you inform His Majesty that inthe future I must insist upon a written order."

  Jack bowed coldly, and followed the physician from the room. Up twoflights of stairs they went, and from there into a private room, fittedup luxuriously.

  "You see," the superintendent explained, "the prisoner has the best thatwe can offer. I hope that you will see fit to inform His Majesty thathis orders are being obeyed."

  "I shall be glad to do so," replied Jack.

  He followed the physician to the bedside of the traitor. Hardy wassleeping, but the physician aroused him by shaking his arm.

  "Your presence before the king is desired immediately," he said.

  Jack kept his face averted, for he feared that Hardy would recognize himin spite of his uniform.

  "What does the king want?" questioned the traitor of the physician.

  "I do not know, but this officer," indicating Jack, "has been sent toconduct you to him."

  "All right I shall be ready immediately," said Hardy.

  He arose from the bed and slipped into his clothes, the physicianassisting him, for his wounded arm was wrapped in a sling and gave himsome difficulty. Then, without a word, he followed Jack from the room.

  Now, as Jack had sought the hospital he had noted some of the localitieshe had passed while being led along by his own captor, so that he had apretty fair idea of the direction in which he wanted to go. The onething that he feared was that Hardy would recognize him before they gotout of the city.

  He kept his hand on the revolver he had taken from the Danish officer,whose clothes he had appropriated, for he was determined that Hardywould either be taken back to the _Sylph_ alive or stay in Denmark dead.

  "He is too dangerous to be allowed to escape scot free," the lad toldhimself. "Besides, Lord Hastings' last words were to bring him back deador alive. I don't think much of the job, but I'll do it if necessary."

  As they walked along the street, Hardy tried to strike up aconversation. Jack walked slightly ahead of him, to prevent him fromgetting a good look at his face.

  "What does the king want with me, do you suppose?" Hardy asked.

  "I don't know," replied Jack gruffly.

  "How about the other prisoner? Where is he?"

  "Oh, he's safe enough," was Jack's answer.

  "You are not very communicative, are you?" demanded Hardy, stoppingsuddenly.

  "Not very," replied Jack, stopping also. "But come along. The kingdesires your presence immediately."

  "Seems to me I have heard your voice before," said Hardy, resuming hiswalk. "You are not the officer who took me to the hospital, are you?"

  "No," said Jack.

  "Then where have we met before?"

  "Your imagination is running away with you," said Jack.

  "No, I know your voice. Hold on, while I get a look at you," and he tookJack by the arm.

  The boy freed his arm with a wrench.

  "None of that," he said, in his natural voice. "You come with me, orI'll put a hole through you."

  Hardy stopped suddenly.

  "I know you now!" he gasped.

  "Yes, and you'll know me a whole lot better if you don't do as I tellyou," said Jack quietly. "Come on, now, move."

  Instead of obeying this command. Hardy suddenly let out a loud cry forhelp.

  Instantly Jack whipped his revolver out.

  "One more like that," he said sternly, "and I'll shoot you where youstand."

  "You wouldn't have the nerve," was the sneering response.

  "Don't try me," said Jack quietly. "You are too dangerous to be runningaround loose. I would shoot you with as little compunction as I would adog."

  Hardy was evidently impressed with Jack's tone, for he resumed his walkslowly.

  "What are you going to do with me?" he demanded.

  "Take you back aboard the _Sylph_," replied the lad. "And now don't letme hear another sound out of you."

  But the one cry for help which Hardy had made was enough to causetrouble. For now, from around the corner came a crowd of men, rushing upto Jack and his prisoner.

  "One word from you," Jack warned Hardy, "and I'll let you have it, nomatter what happens to me. Don't forget that."

  By this time the vanguard of the crowd was upon them.

  "What's the matter?" demanded a voice.

  "Nothing," replied Jack calmly. "I thought for a moment this prisonerwas going to get away. He broke loose and ran down the street, but Icaught him. I called for help because I feared he would get away."

  As he spoke he kept his revolver, which he grasped firmly in his pocket,pointed through the cloth full at his prisoner. Hardy saw that he wascovered, and he realized that a miss at such close quarters waspractically impossible. So he said nothing.

  Jack's explanation seemed to satisfy the crowd, for, after following forsome distance and asking a few questions, it gradually drew off.

  "You'll never know how close you were to death," Jack informed hisprisoner. "I thought once you were going to speak, and my finger was onthe trigger."

  "I saw it," replied Hardy quietly. "I am not entirely a fool."

  "Remember it, then," was Jack's response.

  For some moments they continued on their way in silence, and at lastHardy said:

  "Listen here, Templeton! Isn't there some way we can fix this thing up?I know what will happen to me if I am taken back to the _Sylph_. If thisthing had gone through I would have been a rich man. I am sure I canexplain things satisfactorily to my superiors. Now you let me go andI'll see that you are put in a position that will make youindependent--that you are made rich."

  "Silence, you hound!" exclaimed Jack angrily. "One more remark likethat, and I shall be tempted to shoot you anyhow. I have half a mind to,as it is."

  "Oh, no, you won't," was Hardy's reply. "I know your kind too well forthat."

  "Be careful," said Jack, in a low tone, "don't drive me too far."

  The silence that followed was broken a few moments later by Hardy, whouttered an exclamation. Jack followed the traitor's gaze, and broke intoa cold sweat.

  From the rear came a body of infantry at a run. Jack drew his revolverand shoved it up against Hardy's side.

  "We'll do a little running ourselves," he said quietly. "Hustle, now,and remember I am right behind you, and that I'll put a bullet throughyou at the first false move."

  Hardy, as he himself had said, was no fool. He realized that Jack meantbusiness, and, in spite of his wound, that must have pained him greatly,he started off at top speed, Jack at his heels.

  They were well beyond the town now, and from the condition of the roadJack knew that they were going in the right direction. Also it wasgrowing dark, and Jack knew that it was necessary for him to reach theplace where he had left the _Sylph's_ boat by nightfall.

  He was positive that his men would still be there, but he also knewthat, in accordance with his orders, they would not remain a momentafter the time he had set ha
d passed. Consequently, he kept Hardy goingat top speed.

  From time to time the lad glanced over his head at his pursuers. He knewthat he could outrun them, but he also knew that Hardy would soondiminish his speed if possible. Therefore he kept his revolver ready inhis hand.

  As he had expected, Hardy suddenly began to slow down.

  "Run," commanded Jack, "no stopping now."

  "But I can't run any farther," protested Hardy, panting.

  "Can't you?" replied Jack grimly. "Then maybe this will help you."

  His revolver spoke, and a bullet whistled by the traitor's ear.

  Hardy leaped forward with renewed energy, and for a few moments Jackfound it hard to keep pace with him.

  Now the two came in view of the shore, and Jack spurred his captive torenewed speed. The Danish soldiers were still some distance behind, butnow a shot rang out.

  "No stopping now!" yelled Jack, and, side by side, the two ran towardthe little boat that still lay in waiting, the crew of which wasadvancing to meet them.

  "Quick, men, into the boat," panted Jack, as they came together. "We arepursued. We must get out of range quickly."

  The men needed no further word. All ran for the boat at top speed, wadedout into the water, and climbed aboard. Jack, shoving Hardy ahead ofhim, was the last over the side.

  Quickly he stepped to the steering wheel, and a moment later there was amuffled chug-chug, and the little craft began to slip through the water.

  There was a cry of "Halt!" from the shore; but this went unheeded.

  Came a volley of rifle shots.

  "Duck, men," cried Jack, suiting the action to the word.

  One man was a trifle too late, and his arm fell useless by his side.

  "Hurt much?" queried Jack anxiously.

  "Not much, sir," came the reply; "arm's broken, I guess. That's all,sir."

  Another volley came from the shore, but by this time the little crafthad put such distance between itself and the shore that accurateshooting was impossible.

  The speed of the little craft was increased, and it fairly skimmed overthe water.

  "They will be worried on the _Sylph_," Jack explained. "They are sure towait for us till morning, but I want to get back at the earliestpossible moment."

  Hardly were these words out of the lad's mouth when there was a newcommotion on the boat. Jack's troubles were not over yet.

  "Prisoner overboard, sir!" came the cry from one of the sailors.

  It was true. In the excitement of the moment Hardy had not been securelybound, and, taking advantage of a moment when his captors' backs wereturned, he had slipped quietly over the side, and was swimmingdesperately toward the shore.